World Cup qualifying: Israel 1-1 Scotland: Ryan Fraser earns Scotland second point

Scotland remain winless in the start to their World Cup qualifying campaign despite fighting back in a see-sawing stalemate against Israel in Tel Aviv.

But, hitting back to draw with Austria on Thursday, Ryan Fraser slotted early in the second half to level.

Scotland could not find a winner, leaving them third in group F.

Israel, who claimed their first point after losing their opener to Denmark, came close to a decisive goal when Sun Menahem headed into the side netting.

At the other end Scott McTominay shot tamely into a defender, when teed up by a scything, intricate manoeuvre between Andy Robertson, Kieran Tierney and Callum McGregor. While substitute Ryan Christie fluffed a late opportunity.

You might have thought, after more recent encounters than tugboats have had with the Evergreen, that these two would serve up a turgid affair, that each side would have the measure of the other on their sixth meeting in 15 months.

It was, emphatically, not so. The action cascaded from one end to the other, openings teased then possession surrendered and the whole cycle repeating again.

Scotland’s defending, normally an area of robust reliability in Clarke teams, was slapstick at times and passive too often. Players stood back as the Israelis advanced; menacing runners were unchecked and prime real estate unguarded.

It began in the opening minutes when the prolific Eran Zahavi stole into the box and scuffed a clever Eli Dasa cut-back wide, failing to net his 19th goal in 21 matches.

Malor Solomon went close, Shon Weissman nodded just wide from a cute Bibars Natcho cross, then the captain galloped unmarked deep into Scottish territory but blasted at David Marshall.

Scotland had not been bystanders in this simmering affair, McTominay heading Robertson’s fabulous corner off target.

But after seeing so many warnings and dodging so many blows, Scotland were caught flush on the chin. Peretz had an age to settle and wind up a rasping drive from nearly 30m. Marshall met it at full stretch with both hands, but only tipped the soaring ball into the top-left corner of his net. So close to the interval, it was a brutal salvo.

This lot are resilient, though. We’ve seen it since Clarke took over. We saw it when twice they fought back against Austria on Thursday night.

Clarke swapped the already-booked centre-back Jack Hendry for the attacking incision of Ryan Christie at half-time.

It was his namesake, Fraser, who struck the equaliser. Che Adams surged up to the edge of the box and squared for the diminutive Newcastle attacker. Fraser chopped back on to his right foot, and planted a neat shot beyond Ofir Marciano.

The two soon combined again, Adams almost turning the game in Scotland’s favour when played in by Fraser on a blistering counter, but as he cut in from the left, his curling shot was beaten clear by Marciano.

Israel remained a threat. Stephen O’Donnell allowed Menahem to escape at the back post and nod a deep Dasa curler into the side netting.

McTominay side-footed into a defender after wonderful interplay between Kieran Tierney, McGregor and Robertson.

There were heart-in-mouth moments for both teams in the last throes. Peretz was rightly booked for diving as Robertson tracked him; Christie spooned an effort tamely short and wide when set up in an enticing position.

In the end, these familiar foes could not be parted. A point, even at this early stage of the campaign, may not be enough for either.

Man of the match – Eli Dasa

More to follow.